UK Autism: More Schools, More Support, More Funding Needed

In a few weeks time children with autism and Asperger's Syndrome will be starting a new term - some will be going into mainstream junior, primary secondary schools. Others will be going to special schools. There are also those - a small minority - who will be going to private autism schools.

The Autism Awareness Campaign UK is urging Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Children's Secretary Ed Balls to provide more support, more funding, more specialist autism schools for over 90,000 children with autism. Many suffer without access to public services in education, health, specialist

speech therapy and respite care. Autism is a neuro developmental disorder - over 500,000 people in the UK are on the autism spectrum. In London alone there are 15,000 people from minority ethnic communities who are autistic.According to UK researchers 1 in 100 children have autism. A recent (leaked) study from Cambridge University suggested that a possible 1 in 58 children have autism.

Ivan Corea, head of the UK based Autism Awareness Campaign urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown to keep all avenues open, where the education of autistic children are concerned. 'They may need mainstream schools, special schools or specialist autism schools or even new SEN/Autism academies of the future. Gordon Brown has said that children deserve a world class education.We are appealing to the Prime Minister please do not leave autistic children behind,' he said. The Autism Awareness Campaign has called for a national strategy on autism, a 10 year program of action which includes buising state of the art specialist autism schools in every county to cater to the demand - particularly if numbers are going to rise. Mainstream schools also need to build autism units with sensory rooms if they are serious in supporting inclusion.

Ivan Corea has also urged the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alastair Darling to consider giving parents, carers and people with autism an 'Autism Allowance.' Autism is not only a 24 hour job it is also a very expensive business. Many parents and carers have had to re-mortgage or sell their houses and take huge loans to pay for therapies or pay for education for their children. Parents, carers and people with autism need greater financial support. The financial strain is enormous. Autism Campaigners have also called for national and local 'Autism Compacts' with employers so that people with autism who can work are given labour market opportunities with a proper wage and training. Staff in all business organisations also need training on autism as it is a two way process.